1
: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
a grievous loss
2
: oppressive, onerous
grievous costs of war
grievously
adverb
grievousness
noun
Examples of grievous in a Sentence
the grievous cost of war
He took a foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to The Sun, Garland was named in court documents in the conviction of Vitor Mazzer, who was found guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent during New Year’s Eve in 2019.
—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
3 July 2026
Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were found guilty by a jury last month of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
Mazzer was found guilty on two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and the documents noted that there had been a dispute between Garland and the people who were stabbed.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
According to The Sun, Garland's name is referenced in documents connected to a New Year’s Eve 2019 stabbing in south-east London, in which Vitor Mazzer was found guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
3 July 2026
Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were found guilty by a jury last month of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
Mazzer was found guilty on two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and the documents noted that there had been a dispute between Garland and the people who were stabbed.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
According to The Sun, Garland's name is referenced in documents connected to a New Year’s Eve 2019 stabbing in south-east London, in which Vitor Mazzer was found guilty of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grievous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grievous
adjective
griev·ous
ˈgrē-vəs 
1
: heavy entry 1 sense 2, severe
the grievous cost of war
2
: causing pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
3
: serious sense 4, grave
a grievous mistake
grievously
adverb
grievousness
noun
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